Cone cup making machine



Nov. 27, 1962 D. B. LoEsER ETAL CONE CUP MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2l. 1960 INVENTORS Dan/no 6. 05.552 RE BaDeA/omsef-Ee )7x/Zeb ArrazN-vs Nov. 27, 1962 D. B. LoEsER ETAL 3,065,676

coNE CUP MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2l, 1960 IN V EN TORS 00A/QL D 5. 0555A BY EE. ooefvDoE-QFEE Nov. 27, 1962 D. B. Lol-:SER ETAL 3,065,676

coNE CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1960 Nov. 27, 1962 D. B. LoEsER ETAL 3,065,676

coNE CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 27, 1962 D. B. Lor-:SER ETAL 3,055,676

coNE CUP MAKING MACHINE Filed July 21. 1960 .lawlllillllllll1l\\lllllln y5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR." DaA/HL@ 5. 05552 Arran/vc' V5 ffl.

entame CUNE CUI? MA1-@NG MACHINE Donald B. Losser, Thiensviiie, and Raymond E. Bodendoerfer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Paper Machinery Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July-21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,368

3 Claims. (Cl. 93-36.2)

Pthis invention relates to machines for making paper cone cups.

The general nature of machines of the type to which this invention relates utilizes a conical forming mandrel which grips a blank and is then rotated to thereby wrap the blank therearound, thus forming a conical cup. During the Wrapping process, a presser cone holds the blank tightly against the mandrel to create a smooth and properly shaped and sized cup. A blunting tool then crushes the sharp apex of the cup into a smooth and rounded end.

In the formation of cups by machines of this character, the apex of the'cup contains more layers of paper than are formed at the heel or open end -of the cup. This occurs because of the shape of the blank which has additional material at-the apex portion for reinforcing and blunting the apex to insure a sealed tip. In other words, there may be three and one-half layers of vpaper at the apex and only one and two thicknesses at the open end. r.this non-uniformity of cup wall thickness has presented diiiiculties heretofore in enabling the presser cone to apply uniform pressure along the length of the` mandrel, rather than, for example, high pressures on the tip only.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved cone-cup making machine of the above general type has been provided in which the presser cone is mounted for swinging toward and away from the forming mandrel in such a manner that uniform pressure is always exerted by the pressing roll along the entire length of the cup being formed.` The arrangement is such that the disproportional growth of paper thicknesses along the length of the mandrel is compensated for. t

More specifically, the presser roll is pivoted for swinging movement relative to the mandrel at a point located a considerable distance from the mandrel tip and along a line which lies between the line of contact of the mandrel and presser cone. With such a pivotal mounting and location therefor, as the presser cone swings away from the mandrel, the tip of the cone moves at a greater rate than the cone heel, thus accommodating additional thicknesses of paper at the tip. Thus, by avoiding parallel movement between the contacting sides of the mandrel and presser cone, unequal pressure build-up therealong is eliminated to a substantial extent.

Another aspect of the invention provides a pressure cone mounting of the above type in which the drive for rotating both the mandrel and the presser cone is located concentric with and forms the axis for the common drive worm gear. The driven gears for the mandrel and cone are always in constant mesh at their pitch line which results in a smoothly operating and trouble-free drive mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a cone cup making machine embodying the present invention, certain parts being broken away or in section for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, taken generally from the line 2 2 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in FiGURE l, taken generally from the line 3-3 in FIGURE l; N t t aired States Fatent attains l Patented Nov.` 27, 1962 FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side view of the blunter;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the mandrel and presser cone as shown generally in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE `6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5, but on a reduced scale;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along line 7 7 in FIGURE 5,`but on a reduced scale;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line in iuGUnn 1;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of the drive for the various parts of the machine.

FIGURE l0 is a sectional view of the rotary cutting wheel shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE ll is a sectional view through a portion of a cup formed on the present machine, and

FIGURE 12 is a view of a finished cup formed on the presentmachine.

The cup forming machine comprises a mandrel unit M, blunter unit B, and a feed and cutter unit FC, all of which are mounted on a suitable base frame top 10 located at any desired height abovethe iioor. A master motor 11 furnishes driving power to all of the units as indicated in FIGURE 9.

In the general operation of the machine, the web W of paper is fed from a supply source (not shown) and may, if desired, be printed with a suitable design by a printer which is not shown but which may be driven by a shaft 12 (FIGURE 9). A glue pattern is applied to the web which then passes through the cylindrical cutter roll 13. The cutter cylinder forms a portion of the blank outline, as shown in FIGURE l, including the loading edge .14 of the blank.

The leading edge of the partially formed blank is then precisely presented to the mandrel and is grasped by the mandrels vacuum action. Rotation of the mandrel causes the blank to be wrapped therearound in cooperation with the presser roll which has been swung against the blank and is spring biased thereagainst. While wrapping is taking place, the rotary cutting wheel y15 cuts and completes the top edge of the cup and completely separates the blank from the scrap. The blunter tool is then forcibly slid into position to crush the cup apex and is then immediately slid out of the way. A blast of compressed air from within the mandrel then forcibly ejects the finished cup, which drops into the stacking trough T.

Mandrel Unit Referring in greater detail to the drawings, a mandrel unit housing 20 is secured to the frame top 10 andl has a mandrel shaft 21 rotatably mounted therein in a fixed position by means of anti-friction bearing members 22, 23 and 24. A gear 25 is fixed to shaft 21 and isin constant mesh with a Worm gear 26 fixed to the main drive shaft 27. The mandrel shaft 21 is adjustably and accurately positioned in its bearings by the adjusting nut 28.

A conical mandrel 30 is removably secured on the outer end of the mandrel shaft and is rotatably driven by the mandrel shaft from the worm gear 26. A plenum chamber 31 extends longitudinally along one side of the mandrels periphery and is in communication with a central vacuum passage 32 by means of a series of cross ports 33. Passage 32 then communicates via port 34 with with chamber 42 and places it in communication with a source of air pressure.

As will more fully appear later, two separate passageway systems are thereby formed in the mandrel, one for vacuum to hold the blank on the mandrel and one for air pressure to eject the finished cup from the mandrel.

A presser cone housing 45 is pivotally mounted on mandrel housing 20 for swinging movement about shaft 27 as an axis. More particularly, the pair of annular shoulders 46, 47 (FIGURE 6) of the housing 45 is carried in complementary bearing grooves 48, 49 in the housing 20. Wiper seals 50 (FIGURE 5) complete the seal between the housings. A presser cone 51 is rotatably carried in its housing by means of its shaft 52 journalled in anti-friction bearing members 53, 54 and 55. A gear 56 is fixed to shaft 52 and is in constant mesh with the worm 26, regardless of the position to which the housing 45 and its presser roll have been swung.

The swinging of the presser cone is accomplished through a yoke 57 which forms an integral part of the cone housing 45 and extends downwardly therefrom into the mandrel housing 20. The lower end of the yoke has a swivel socket by which it is swivelly connected to a lever 58 pivoted at 59 in the housing 20. The lever 58 has a cam roller 60 mounted thereon which follows the peripheral surface of a cam `61. Rotation of the cam 61 and the shaft 62 to which it is fixed causes the yoke to swing away from the mandrel and permits the yoke to swing toward the mandrel under the influence of a spring 63. The spring 63 acting between the inside of housing 20 and the yoke urges the latter to the cone closed position against the mandrel, to resiliently hold the cone in firm pressing engagement against the mandrel, more particularly against the blank on the mandrel.

The worm 26 drives both the mandrel 30 and cone 51 in synchronization and is in constant mesh therewith at the proper pitch line to insure a smoothly operating drive and accommodate swinging of the presser cone relative to the mandrel.

The location of the presser cone pivot point back of the heel of the cone and at a considerable distance therefrom, and furthermore along an extension of the line of contact between the mandrel and cone, is important. Such a location permits the tip of the presser cone to move at a greater rate than its heel, in respect to the mandrel. In this manner, as a greater number of layers of paper are built up on the tip of the mandrel than at its heel, as will appear more fully, the cone tip in moving a greater distance from the mandrel than does the cone heel, compensates for the uneven growth of paper thicknesses along the mandrel. A uniform pressing pressure along the mandrel is thereby provided. This results in an accurately formed and smooth cup and eliminates concentrated pressure build-up at any one point on the cup or mandrel.

Also mounted on the mandrel housing 20 and closely adjacent the heel of the mandrel is a rotary cutting element in the form of the wheel 1S having a cutting edge a. The wheel is carried by the mounting disc 65 fixed on shaft 66, and a garter spring 67 acting between the disc and wheel biases the latter tightly against the heel of the mandrel. The shaft 66 is journalled in anti-friction bearings 66a, 66b and 66e and has a gear 67 fixed thereto. Gear 67 is in constant mesh with the gear 68 fixed on mandrel shaft 21, and thereby the cutter wheel is driven in synchronization with the mandrel.

A blunting tool 70 is mounted for reciprocation in coaxial alignment with the axis of the mandrel. The tool is mounted in a bore 71 in the reciprocable gear rack 72 and can slide therein within the limits defined by the pin 73 and slot 74 which form a sliding connection between the tool and rack. A spring 75 urges the toolto the extended position and acts to firmly hold the tool lagainst the rounded tip of the mandrel. Thus, the sharp point of the cup is crushed into a rounded point and rotation of the cup with the mandrel smoothly finishes it.

The teeth 76 of the rack are in engagement with the gear 77 fixed on shaft 78. Another gear 79 is also fixed on the other end of shaft '78 and is in constant mesh with the teeth on a vertical rack 81. At the upper end of the rack 81, another gear 82 meshes therewith and gear 82 is fixed to a shaft 83. A third rack 84 meshes with another gear 85 fixed on shaft 83. A cam follower 86 is secured to the end of rack 84. A cam track 87 is formed in one side of a disc 88 and this track rides over the follower as the disc is rotated. Disc 88 is fixed to gear 89 which in turn is fixed to shaft 90. Rotation of shaft 90 causes rotation of the cam track which in turn causes reciprocation of the follower 86 and its rack 84. A cutaway portion 91 forms a yoke for the rack so the shaft 90 can extend through the yoke portion of the rack.

Drive Means The driving power for the machine is furnished from a single source, such as, for example, the electric motor 11. The main drive shaft 27 has the worm 26 fixed thereto for driving both the mandrel and presser cone as described. The mandrel shaft 21 and its gear 63 furnish the drive to the cutter wheel shaft 67.

Main shaft 27 also has another worm 93 fixed thereon which is in constant mesh with the gear 94. Gear 94 is fixed to shaft 62 on which is fixed the cam 61.

Shaft 62 also has another cam 95 fixed thereto which actuates a plunger 95 o-f a conventional two-way air valve 97. This valve controls the compressed air blow-olf for the mandrel. The arrangement is such that a blast of air is delivered every fourth revolution of the mandrel.

The ratio between the worm 93 and gear 94 is four to one, that is, the worm 93 makes four revolutions for every one of the gear 94. Thus, the cone is lifted from the mandrel every fourth revolution of the mandrel and during which fourth revolution the compressed air blast occurs.

The mandrel makes four revolutions in forming a cup, and the compressed air blast Occurs every fourth revolution.'

The cutting wheel 15 always is against the mandrel and begins cutting as soon as the blank comes in contact therewith.

Power is furnished to the feed and cutter unit FC and to the printer shaft 12 through a conventional right angle gear box which is fed by the shaft 62. Shaft 90 extends from the gear box and furnishes the drive as previously described for the blunter unit at the other end of shaft 90.

As shown in FIGURE 9, power is transmitted from gear 89, via gears 102 to 108 to the cutting cylinder 13, anvil roll 109, and back-up roll 110. The glue wheel 111, backing roll 112 for the glue wheel, and glue transfer roll 113 are all suitably driven as indicated in FIG- URE 9. As these rolls and drive therefor form no part of the present invention, further reference to them is deemed unnecessary.

Operation As the web W moves through the cylindrical knife 13, only a portion of the cup blank B is formed as indicated in FIGURE l by the straight diagonal line 115 and the irregularly shaped line 116 along one edge of the web. A ribbon of scrap S is formed along the side of the blanks and is fed continuously through the machine and easily disposed as a continuous ribbon.

The leading edge 14 of the blank B is precisely presented to the mandrel and is gripped by the action of the vacuum chamber. Rotation of the mandrel causes wrapping of the partially formed blank around the mandrel at which time the cutting wheel 15 in trimming the top edge of the cup actually completes the formation of the cup blank while the latter is being wrapped. The wheel 'actually cuts along the dotted line 122 as the partially formed blank is wrapped around the mandrel.

The generally triangular piece 123 of scrap, formed between lines 115 and 122, is therefore not cut from the blank portion until the latter has been wrapped on the mandrel.

The scrap piece portion 123 aids in guiding the immediately preceding blank portion into precise register with the vacuum chamber.

As the triangular scrap piece is cut, it moves to the right as viewed in FIGURE l, and because it has moved past the mandrel when it is naily severed from the blank, it is at a location where it drops free of the mandrel unit. In this manner, all scrap pieces are positively moved through the machine without fouling any moving parts.

FIGURE 11 indicates the Various thicknesses of paper of which the cup is comprised along its length. FIGURE 12 also shows these various layers of paper.

As the mandrel is rotated three revolutions, the presser cone resiliently bears rmly against the blank being formed into a cup. As the cup is being wrapped, the pressure cone moves slightly away from the mandrel about the pivot shaft 27. As shown in FIGURE 11, that portion of the cup wall adjacent the apex grows thicker than does the heel portion, due to the additional wraps of paper adjacent the apex. As the cone tip is located farthest from this pivot shaft, and because the pivot axis is located on the line or in the plane containing the line of contact between the presser cone and the mandrel when they are together, the cone tip moves a greater distance from the mandrel than does the cone heel. In this manner, the unequal growth of paper thickness along the mandrel is compensated for. A more uniform pressing pressure thereby results on the cup.

After the cup is wrapped, that is after the third revolution of the mandrel, the blunter is quickly brought in crushing engagement with the cup apex and stays in contact therewith for only a short period of time, approximately during only about one-fourth of one revolution of the mandrel, to thereby burnish the end slightly. The blunter is then retracted quickly to permit cup ejection.

After the cup has thus been formed, and during the fourth revolution of the mandrel, the cone is lifted away from the mandrel and the compressed air blast is actuated to blow the cup oif into the stacking trough T.

As the vacuum has never been turned off, but rather is only momentarily overcome by the short compressed air it? blast, it is immediately available for gripping the next blank.

A particularly compact and efcient cone cup machine has been provided by the present invention.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

'What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. in a cone cup making machine having a rotatable conical mandrel around which a paper blank is adapted to be wrapped, a presser cone pivotally mounted about an axis for swinging to a position in which said cone bears against the blank on the mandrel for smoothing the blank and `forming it `against the mandrel, means for positively swinging said cone about said axis to a position away from said mandrel, said pivotal axis being located a distance spaced from the base end of the conical mandrel, which distance is greater than the length of said mandrel, Said axis being in a plane which passes through the line of contact between the mandrel and cone when they are in contact with each other, each of said mandrel and cone having a shaft with which it is rotatably driven, a drive shaft located in coaxial alignment with said axis, and constant mesh gear means between said drive shaft and said mandrel and cone shafts.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including, means for resiliently biasing said cone toward said mandrel.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that said means for positively swinging said cone includes a driven cam which is adapted to cause said swinging once for every predetermined number of revolutions of said mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,174,716 Haynes et al. Mar. 7, 1916 1,257,949 Adelson Feb. 26, 1918 1,273,497 Jennings July 23, 1918 1,610,191 Barbieri Dec. 7, 1926 1,697,240 Hartzell Jan. 1, 1929 2,203,515 Barbieri .lune 4, 1940 2,240,501 Greenhill May 6, 1941 2,385,604 Brewer Sept. 25, 1945 2,684,117 Wood July 20, 1954 2,796,933 De Gelleke June 25, 1957 

